Islands, "This Is Not A Song," A Sleep & A Forgetting

Islands, "This Is Not A Song," A Sleep & A Forgetting

The title is, of course, a red herring. In fact, for such a definitively titled song, it raises a lot of questions. First, it's not only a song, but a waltz — the saddest form a song can take. And this one — nicely timed for a Valentine's Day release — is a heartrending bruiser of a waltz. In the chorus, Islands mastermind Nick Thorburn asks and almost answers his own primary question: "If this is just a song, then why do I find it so hard to move on?" But obviously, this is not "just" a song — it's too palpable. And songs about songs are tricky anyway, like little infinite mirrors. And to complicate matters more, sometimes the best love songs are breakup songs: What better evidence of your love is there than the pain that prevents you from moving on? Which brings us to our final question: Can a song so full of despondency double as one of the most beautiful love songs about a song you've ever heard? Absolutely. This is that song.